Mets closer Frank Francisco laments injury-plagued season

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerIt's been a frustrating season for Mets closer Frank Francisco, who has been hampered by an assortment of injuries.

NEW YORK — Frank Francisco sat, helpless, as the moment passed him by Wednesday night. The Mets forked over a two-year contract for moments just like this: a lead in the ninth inning, the ideal spot for a veteran reliever like Francisco.

Instead, Francisco, idled by tendinitis in his right elbow, watched as rookie Josh Edgin blew a save to ruin the evening.

“I was waiting for a save for a long time,” Francisco said before Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. “The first day that I wasn’t available, I see a save situation. Then we blow it. That really killed me.”

The team gave Francisco an extra day to rest the inflammation around his flexor tendon, the latest hiccup in a season laden with them. Francisco scuffled through the spring. He strained an oblique muscle during the summer, just after he had established a rhythm, and missed all of July.

“We’re certainly disappointed we didn’t have him healthy all year,” Collins said. “But I’d have to say for the majority of the year, he pitched pretty good.”

That is debatable. Francisco, 32, possesses a bloated 5.53 ERA. He’s still striking out more than a batter per inning (47 in 42⅓ innings), but he’s allowing runners on a base at a greater rate than ever before. His 1.606 walks plus hits per inning is a career-high.

But Collins can recall moments of brilliance plucked from the wreckage. He mentioned Francisco’s strong, three-batter stint last weekend against the Brewers.

“Look at the game in Milwaukee,” Collins said. “He was lights out. All three of his pitches were working, and command was there. The next day, he couldn’t open and close his hand.”

Francisco stopped short of calling the season frustrating, but, he said, “it’s been tough. Every time I fail, I try to find a way to get up and keep fighting. But it’s tough.”

The Mets owe Francisco another $6.5 million for next year. But they are already looking to groom his replacement. In a meeting with general manager Sandy Alderson Thursday, Collins suggested the team should grant rookie reliever Jeurys Familia a trial by fire.

“We’ve got to start putting him in some pretty tough situations,” Collins said. “I want to see how he reacts.”

Collins delivered a vote of confidence Thursday for Francisco to remain in the closing role next year. But a homegrown bullpen creates economic opportunities for the front office. Alderson must retool the bullpen once more, and he would hope to not spend much money in the process.

That means players like Familia will be asked to work in relief full-time for the first time. Familia has given up two runs in four appearances. But his combination of a mid-90s sinker and blow-away slider appeals to Collins.

“If he can get command of those two pitches,” Collins said, “he’s got a chance to be pretty special.”

Familia spent all of this season in the Triple-A rotation. He floundered when trying to throw strikes. But the team has long held high hopes for his potential from the bullpen.
Until he blossoms — or until the Mets find another suitable candidate — Francisco will be the closer. If he’s healthy, of course.

“There’s nothing I can do about it,” Francisco said. “I just keep fighting and move on.”